Against The Norm

Dave Mowry never expected to become a stand-up comedian. After a psychotic break in 1996, Dave spent years struggling with bipolar disorder, severe depression, anxiety, and the devastating financial and personal consequences that followed. For nearly 14 years, simply functioning in everyday life could be a challenge. Then, at 59, something completely unexpected happened: Dave took a stand-up comed...

What happens when you stop asking, “Am I too old for this?” and start asking, “Why not me?” At 70, Tom Cladis has spent a lifetime refusing to let fear—or other people's expectations—decide what he's capable of doing. He's wrestled alligators, jumped out of airplanes, done handstands on the edges of cliffs, learned gymnastics in his 40s, worked as a flight attendant and financial pl...

What if retirement wasn't about slowing down—but finally becoming the person you've always wanted to be? This week on “Against the Norm” I sit down with adventurer, writer, and long-distance hiker Belinda Corker, whose life changed dramatically after one simple realization: despite a successful corporate career, something essential was missing. Belinda shares how she traded comfort for c...

At age 49, Stanley Bronstein weighed 367 pounds and was headed down a dangerous path. He had tried diets, quick fixes, and temporary solutions for years. Nothing lasted. Then everything changed. Today, more than 17 years later, Stanley has lost nearly 190 pounds and kept it off—without surgery, without weight-loss drugs, and without the shortcuts that so many people rely on today. In this candid c...

A retired schoolteacher becomes a fantasy hero. A television comedy writer discovers online gaming. A lifelong creator refuses to slow down at 75. Meet Richard Sparks—Oxford graduate, television writer, novelist, and author of the “New Rock” series.  Richard shares stories from a remarkable career that includes writing comedy, working alongside some of Britain's most influential creative tale...

At age 20, Ken Kunken broke his neck making a routine tackle during a Cornell football game. Doctors told his family he probably wouldn’t survive the week — and if he did, he would spend the rest of his life in a nursing home. They even said: “If he were my son, I’d let him go.”But Ken refused to let that prediction define him. In this deeply moving episode of Against the Norm , Ken shares how he...

What happens when you reach retirement age… and realize you’re not ready to simply “settle down”? In this fascinating and deeply personal conversation, journalist and author, Audrey Edwards, shares the emotional story behind her decision to leave America after the 2016 election and begin a completely different life in Paris at nearly 70 years old. But this episode is about far more than politics....

What would you do if your entire life collapsed all at once? When Ray Martin’s marriage ended, his business unraveled, and his father died within the same period of time, he found himself emotionally shattered and completely lost. What was supposed to be a six-month sabbatical turned into a 14-year journey across Asia, Europe, and deep into himself. In this fascinating conversation, Ray shares how...

After surviving cancer twice, he discovered the one question that can wake up any man who feels stuck—and most men never ask it. What would you do if life hit you with cancer… not once, but twice? Most people would shut down. Most would ask, “Why me?” But today’s guest, Savio Clemente, asked a very different—and far more powerful—question: “Did I live the life I was meant to live… and what do I do...

In this episode of Against the Norm , Norman Calvo sits down with fellow Princeton grad Andrew “Andy” Oser —a man who’s lived an unmistakably “against the norm” life. After founding a nonprofit that served over 50,000 inner-city youth in Washington, D.C. through tennis and wellness programs, Andy has spent the last two decades guiding spiritual retreats at sacred sites on Mount Shasta . This conve...

What does it actually take for a man in his 60s or 70s to get fitter—especially if he hasn’t worked out in decades? In this episode of Against the Norm , Norman Calvo sits down with his personal trainer and strength coach Brandon Chu (Liv Method, Manhattan), who shares a refreshingly real roadmap for older men: start smaller than you think, build consistency first, and use accountability to make i...

In this first full episode of Against the Norm , host Norman Calvo sits down with Ron Drotos —acclaimed pianist, musical director, and Norman’s collaborator on his one-man cabaret show—to talk about something most adults struggle with: starting something new without letting fear, perfectionism, or past mistakes stop us . Ron shares powerful insights from decades of teaching musicians, singers, and...

A short introduction to Against the Norm—a podcast for people who aren’t done yet and are ready to create a bold, energized next chapter in their life. Contact us:    againstthenorm.net